Improvement in clocks



J. DITTMEIER,

Clock.

Patented Aug. 26, 1879.

Z52 we 41 2 0 9.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DITTMEIER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,945, dated August26, 1879; application filed June 21, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN DITTMEIER, of the city of Rochester, county ofMonroe, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Clocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe acoompanyin g draw ings, in which Figure l is an elevation of theclock. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section. Fig. 3 is a plan of thegearing. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the striking apparatus, looking onthe inside.

My invention consists in certain improvements in clocks in which theordinary minute and hour hands are dispensed with, and revolvingdialrings are used instead.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement hereinaftermore fully described.

A is a cylindrical case, in which the clockworks and connectingoperating parts are located. B is a hollow standard which risestherefrom, and forms the bearing for the two shafts which carry thedial-rings. At the top of the standard is preferably a circular fixeddisk, 0.

a is a central shaft or post, which is simply an elongation orcontinuation of the minutehand arbor in a common clock. I) is a hollowshaft situated around the shaft a, and which is simply an elongation orcontinuation of the hour-hand shaft in a common clock. These two shafts,which receive independent motions, extend up through the hollow standardB, and have fastened to their tops revolving dial-rings D E, upon theperipheries of which are respectively marked the characters representingthe minutes and hours, as shown in Fig. 1. On the center minute-shaft,a, is also attached a bell, G, above the upper dial-ring.

The two shafts a I) receive motion from the two spurgears l 2 and twopinions 3 4, (which are used in a common clock;) and the ordinaryclock-work (not shown in the drawings) gives motion to the lower end ofshaft a, and by this means the upper dial-ring, D, revolves once in anhour, and the lower dial-ring, E, revolves once in twelve hours,corresponding with the motions of the hands in an ordinary clock.

H I are two figures or images which stand upon the pedestal A. Thefigure H holds in one hand a pointer, d, which. stands vertically midwayof the two dial-rings, and indicates the hour and minute as thedial-rings revolve past it. The other figure, I, holds in one hand ahammer, f, which is made to strike upon the bell at each hour by thefollowing means: The arm g of the figure, to which the hammer isattached, is pivoted at the shoulder, and on the inner side of thefigure an extension, 9, of said arm extends down, as shown in Fig. 4.Against this extension rests the upper end of a bell-crank lever, 72,pivoted at the bottom, and having attached at the outer arm a cord orother connection, 2', which extends down into the case A. A spring, it,bears against the extension g, and has a tendency to cause the hammer tostrike down upon the bell. The lower end of cord 2' is attached to theouter end of a pivoted elbow-lever, m, the lower end of which projectsdown below the plane of the gear-wheel 1. To the frame of the gearing isalso pivoted a horizontal rock-lever, a, which is so curved that theouter end embraces the lower end of lever m, while the inner end restsover the face of the spur-gear 2. On the face of this gear are threeprojecting pins, 12191). As the gear revolves, these pins trip the levera, and, through the medium of the connections above described, cause thehammer to strike the bell. Other means might readily be used foroperating the hammer, and, instead of the figures or images abovedescribed, other bearings for holding the pointer and hammer andconnecting parts might be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a clock, the combination of the shafts a Z), forming elongationsor continuatious of the minute and hour shafts of a clock, revolvingdial-rings D E, having the minutes and hours marked thereon, and astationary pointer to indicate the minutes and hours as the dialringsrevolve, as herein shown and described.

2. In a clock, the combination of the shafts a I), forming elongationsof the minute and hour hand shafts, revolving dial-rings D E, attachedto said shafts, a stationary pointer to indicate the minute and hour asthe dial-rin gs revolve, a be11,.Gr, mounted above the dialshown anddescribed, and for the purpose rings, anda, hammerfpperated hyQsuitabl especified.

mechanism,for striking upon thebelhas herein In witness whereof I havehereunto signed shownand described. j 7 my name in the presence of twosubscribing 3. In afclock, the combination of the pivoted witnesses.

hammer f, provided withtheextension 9 the JOHN DITTMEIER. bell-cranklever--71, spr-ingk, the cord-- orcon- Witnesses: nection c','theelbow-lever m, the rock-lever n, R. F. OsGooD,

and the pins 19 p p in the face of the gear2, as. v. J-AooB SPAHN.

